I often get asked, if I’m new to Hermès and want to start small, what are the bags I should be checking out first? Frankly, as far as Hermès is concerned, there is no such thing as small when it comes to its prices, but there are entry-level bags one can check out if the spirit is willing but the wallet, well, a tad weaker, for now anyway.

Take, for example, the Hermès Garden Party, an icon in her own right that comes in both twill canvas and leather variations. It’s also available in 3 distinct sizes, Small,Medium and Large, with today’s focus on the smallest one. Measuring some 30 cm across (which explains why it’s also called the Garden Party30) by 22 cm, this particular one sells for USD2175 (which is just under SGD3000 after conversion), the good part is that you can easily dress it up. I’ve seen Garden Party bags with Twillyscarves and leather Petit H charms hanging from the handles.

The bad? There isn’t a zip that runs across the top, and worse still, it can only be hand-held, given the height of its rather short top handles. Still, it’s a pretty cute bag and one that’s pretty hardwearing too, given the kind of quality bags Hermès makes.

And if size is the issue, you can go up a size to the Medium (that’s around 35 cm across, USD2325), which is also the most common of the 3 sizes I’ve seen. And then there’s the Large (USD2950), which spans 50 cm and one that’s too big even by my own standards.

Still not convinced? Then check out these other two bags from Hermès I consider the good-value-and-will-not-break-bank-yet bags: the Evelyne, as well as the Herbag Zip, both of which come with long enough slings to allow you to either wear it across the body or over the shoulder.